Study and Assessment of Motor Abilities of Older Children of Pre-school Age With Speech Disorders

Objectives: The urgency of the given study is in the lack of knowledge of various types of motor abilities of older pre-school children with speech disorders and the need to realize an individually differentiated approach to provide the environment for their development. In the current study, it was tried to identify and assess the level of development of motor abilities in older pre-school children with speech disorders. Methods: The study included 200 older pre-school children, 100 children with a healthy level of speech development, and 100 with a speech disorder in the Belgorod and Belgorod region (Russian Federation). The study looked at scientific sources using motor abilities testing (motor coordination, speed, strength, strength, plasticity, and stamina). Methods of mathematical statistics (student's t-test) using the SPSS software, version 26 were used to calculate the statistic problems. Results: The study and assessment of motor abilities of older pre-school children showed the predominance of an insufficient level of development of motor and coordination abilities in both neurotypical children and those with a language disorder. In both groups, children performed the worse left-hand task (the insufficient level was noted in children with speech disorders in 100% of boys and girls; in the group of children with a healthy level of speech development – in 84.1% of boys and 81.5 % of girls). When performing the right task hand, an insufficient level was noticed in children with speech disorders in 95.5% of boys and 96.4% of girls; in the group of children with a healthy level of speech development–in 77.3% of boys and 74.1% of girls. Diagnosis of other motor abilities states the dominance of the insufficient level only in children with speech disorders: strength abilities (70.5% of boys and 72.3% of girls), speed and strength abilities (68.2 % of boys and 67.9 % of girls), stamina (77.3% of boys and 75% of girls), and plasticity (65.9% of boys and 62.5% of girls). The veracity of the results was confirmed through the student's t-test. The observed differences were statistically significant. Discussion: The obtained findings and assessment of motor abilities confirm developmental lag in older pre-school children with speech disorders. In children, low indicators in the level of development of motor-coordination abilities and stamina prevailed.